Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT)

Symptoms

• Sore throat: Pain or scratchiness when swallowing, often from a viral cold, strep, or tonsillitis. Severe, one-sided throat pain with difficulty swallowing needs prompt evaluation.
• Ear pain: An ache, sharp pain, or pressure in the ear, commonly from infection, fluid buildup, or pressure changes. Pain with swelling behind the ear or high fever is more concerning.
• Nasal congestion and sinus pressure: A stuffy or blocked nose with facial pressure or headache, usually from a cold, allergies, or sinusitis.
• Nosebleed (epistaxis): Bleeding from one or both nostrils. Most stop with pinching, but heavy or prolonged bleeding may need medical care.
• Hoarseness or voice change: A raspy or muffled voice, often from a viral illness or overuse. A muffled 'hot potato' voice with drooling can signal a deep throat infection.
• Hearing changes or ringing: Sudden hearing loss, new ringing (tinnitus), or a sensation of fullness. Sudden hearing loss should be evaluated quickly.
• Dizziness or vertigo: A spinning sensation or imbalance that can come from inner-ear problems such as BPPV or vestibular neuritis.

When It's an Emergency

Call 911 or come to Bellaire ER immediately for any trouble breathing, noisy or high-pitched breathing (stridor), or a sensation that your throat is closing. These can signal dangerous swelling of the airway.

Seek emergency care for severe sore throat with difficulty swallowing, drooling, an inability to swallow your own saliva, a muffled 'hot potato' voice, or one-sided throat swelling. These can indicate a deep throat infection such as an abscess or epiglottitis.

For a nosebleed, sit up, lean slightly forward, and firmly pinch the soft part of your nose for 15 to 20 minutes without releasing. Come to Bellaire ER if bleeding will not stop after 20 minutes, is very heavy, follows a significant injury, or you take blood thinners.

Also seek emergency care for sudden hearing loss, severe ear pain with swelling or redness behind the ear, a high fever with a stiff neck, or any facial injury affecting the nose, jaw, or ear.

When It's Not an Emergency

Many ENT complaints are safe to manage with telemedicine, urgent care, or your primary care provider. A typical sore throat, mild ear pain, nasal congestion, or sinus pressure without breathing or swallowing trouble usually falls into this category.

A nosebleed that stops with pinching, seasonal allergy symptoms, mild hoarseness, or a plugged-ear feeling from a cold generally do not need the ER. Telemedicine is a reasonable first step for these, and a clinician can prescribe treatment or arrange in-person follow-up if needed.

When symptoms are mild and stable but you are unsure, telemedicine or a call to your provider can help you decide. If breathing or swallowing becomes difficult at any point, treat it as an emergency.

What Happens at Bellaire ER

When you arrive at Bellaire ER with an ENT problem, you are seen quickly by a board-certified emergency physician who examines your ears, nose, throat, and neck and checks your breathing and ability to swallow.

Depending on your symptoms, evaluation may include a rapid strep test, blood work in our full on-site lab, and imaging with X-ray or CT to look for abscesses, deep infection, or airway swelling. For nosebleeds, we can apply pressure, use medication, cautery, or nasal packing to control the bleeding.

We diagnose and treat in a single visit, and most patients do not need a hospital transfer. Before you leave, your physician explains your results, provides treatment such as antibiotics or drainage when appropriate, and gives a clear follow-up plan, including referral to an ENT specialist if needed.

Prevention

Reduce ENT infections by washing your hands often, staying current on recommended vaccines, and avoiding cigarette smoke, which irritates the nose and throat.

Manage nasal and sinus symptoms with saline sprays, treating allergies, and keeping indoor air humidified in dry months. To prevent nosebleeds, keep the nasal lining moist and avoid picking or forceful blowing.

Protect your hearing by keeping objects out of the ear canal and using ear protection around loud noise.